Wen Jiabao and Helen Clark might not be political soul mates, but the Premier of the world's emerging economic superpower and the leader of a small island nation understand each other perfectly when it comes to extracting political capital from their free trade deal.
Yesterday, it seemed both
leaders were more intent on devising another first in the relationship - perhaps a climate change accord - rather than celebrating what's been achieved.
But their satisfaction at concluding the lengthy negotiations that will set a template for China's subsequent deals with much bigger nations was writ large on their faces well before they toasted the signing of the agreement with a few sips of champagne in the Great Hall of the People.
Both leaders are promoting the trade deal as an example to the world of what's possible if countries get serious about opening their economies.
It is indeed possible that the China-New Zealand agreement could become the hub for an Asia-Pacific free trade deal if the World Trade Organisation's Doha round of trade talks fails.
It's clear that Wen will now be able to wave New Zealand's historic free trade deal at other nations in China's free trade queue - including Australia, whose Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrives in Beijing this week - as proof his country is serious about developing a rules-based market economy.
And Clark can wave the pact at other nations and invite their top businesses to establish subsidiaries in New Zealand to take advantage of the greater access to the vast Chinese market that will be possible once the deal goes into effect.
Australia's free trade negotiations are proceeding at a snail's pace, so Clark could suggest Australian companies might want to form more joint ventures with Kiwi counterparts to reach the China market.
Clark believes New Zealand's advantage stems from her decision to recognise China as a market economy in 2004, making New Zealand the first Western nation to do so.
And Wen left no doubts on this score, saying Clark's leadership had made New Zealand a "forerunner in your business and economic relationship with China".
